Best Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month In Los Angeles

(credit: The Olvera Street Merchants)

(credit: The Olvera Street Merchants)

Hispanic Heritage Month straddles the months of September and October, giving Los Angeles locals plenty of opportunities to officially celebrate from now until mid October. As explored before in this space, relevant activities abound from huge festivals to art-oriented gatherings sure to bring out the inner Latino in all of us. The following are five of the best.

(credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

(credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Hispanic Heritage Festival
MacArthur Park Recreation Center
2230 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(424) 456-4743
www.culturela.org
Date: Oct. 5, 2014

Get to know the cultures of Latin America and Spain at this big party your whole tribe will savor. This is done through the talents of all kinds of traditional performers as well as artists who represent their Hispanic roots in a colorful way, sure to be a big hit with your entire family.

(credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

(credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

Latinos in Hollywood Photo Exhibit
Terminal 4, Los Angeles International Airport and other locations
1 World Way
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(213) 634-7614
www.latinoheritage.com
Date: Now through Oct. 15, 2014 at 8 p.m.

From Desi Arnez to Rita Hayworth and from Eva Longoria to Zoe Saldana, Hollywood's biggest Latino stars grace the walls of terminal 4 at LAX, one of the world's busiest airports. In fact, some 90,000 travelers each day will be able to gaze into the eyes of these amazing talents as these sojourners pass by on the way to, well, everywhere during Latino Heritage Month. The final opportunity to take in this winning exhibit is at Bailamos L.A. at The Greek Theater on October 18.

(credit: Dia de Los Muertos Festival)

(credit: Dia de Los Muertos Festival)

Dia De Los Muertos Annual Art and Music Show
Casita del Pueblo
13100 Philadelphia St.
Whittier, CA 90061
(562) 693-2844
www.facebook.com
Date: Oct. 12, 2014

This annual Day of the Dead celebration, now in its 9th year, in uptown Whittier is an all day affair. Try to go as you'll be entertained in one way or another by a tamale cook-off, a parade of tribute cars and a lot of lively music. Kids will be occupied with activities like face painting and other youth-oriented activities while others in your family will take the time to stop by the local altars as well as the many craft and art vendors on hand on this special day.

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"Zoetrope Part"
Los Angeles Theater Center
514 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 489-0994
www.thelatc.com
Date: Various dates between Oct. and Nov., 2014

This two-part play shows up in L.A. to examine the lives of a Puerto Rican family during four different decades as this left wing clan is shown in both Harlem and Lares on the island of their birth. In a true bilingual production, the scenes in Puerto Rico are performed in Spanish with subtitles while the scenes in New York are performed in English with subtitles. A love story, this particular piece, which is written and directed by Javier Antonio González, uses choreography and video to get its point across.

Related: Best Latin Dance Clubs in Los Angeles

Los Angeles freelance travel writer Jane Lasky, contributes to publications such as Travel + Leisure, Vogue and Esquire. Her weekly sojourning column ran in 40 newspapers for 20 years. Jane is anything but an accidental tourist. Check out her articles on Examiner.com.